Our professions
In the public sector, health care and social services are organized into service programs and support programs within the institutions. Professionals and technicians represented by the APTS (Class 4 personnel) are involved in each of these programs. Technical medical services units constitute a distinct category, although they are associated with the “Physical health” service program. Learn more by clicking on the various programs.
SERVICE PROGRAMS
Service programs include services and activities that are organized to meet the needs of all Quebecers for health and social services, as well as the needs of specific groups of people who share the same problem.
Dependencies (alcoholism, drug addiction, pathological problems)
Under this program, people of all ages who are grappling with some form of dependency (alcoholism, drug addiction, compulsive gambling, Internet addiction, etc.) are offered services to support their rehabilitation and help them reintegrate the community. Detox and harm reduction are included in the program, and services are also provided for their loved ones. APTS members work in CLSCs, hospital settings and rehabilitation centres.
JOB TITLES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM
- Clinical activities specialist
- Community worker
- Criminologist
- Educator
- Guidance counsellor
- Human relations officer
- Occupational therapist
- Planning, programming and research officer
- Psychoeducator
- Psychologist
- Social aide
- Social worker
- Social work technician
- Special education technician
General services – clinical and assistance activities
Provided for all Quebecers, these front-line services can usually be accessed locally by individuals. They are intended to meet specific (sometimes acute) needs as they arise.
General services are provided in institutions (CLSCs), and also by doctors in medical practice or family medicine groups (GMFs); in some cases, they can be received at home. Psychosocial, rehabilitation and nutrition services are provided by APTS members.
JOB TITLES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM
- Assistant head dietetics technician
- Clinical activities specialist
- Community organizer
- Community worker
- Dental hygienist
- Dietetics technician
- Dietitian / nutritionist
- Educator
- Ethics advisor
- Human relations officer
- Occupational therapist
- Physical educator / kinesiologist
- Physical rehabilitation therapist
- Physiotherapist
- Planning, programming and research officer
- Psychoeducator
- Psychologist
- Social aide
- Social worker
- Social work technician
- Special education technician
- Speech-language pathologist
Intellectual impairments and autism spectrum disorder
Under this program, services are provided to people of all ages who have an intellectual impairment or autism spectrum disorder. Their loved ones also receive services.
Working in rehabilitation centres, residences with continuous assistance (RACs), CLSCs or hospital settings, APTS members play a crucial role in reducing the impact of an impairment or a disorder, helping the person compensate for incapacities or problems that arise from it, and supporting the person’s social integration.
JOB TITLES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM
Art therapist
Clinical activities specialist
Clinical sexologist
Community recreation leadership technician
Counsellor for maladjusted children
Dietitian / nutritionist
Educator
Human relations officer
Integration officer
Living or rehabilitation unit supervisor
Occupational therapist
Physical educator / kinesiologist
Physical rehabilitation therapist
Physiotherapist
Planning, programming and research officer
Psychoeducator
Psychologist
Sexologist
Social aide
Social worker
Social work technician
Special education technician
Speech-language pathologist
Work adaptability counsellor
Mental health
This program provides second- and third-line services to people of all ages who present with persistent or transient mental health disorders severe enough to have an impact on their social functioning. (Front-line services are part of the “General services – clinical and assistance activities” program). Services are also provided to loved ones. Approaches are adapted to each person’s age group and situation and may involve variable community follow-up, intensive community follow-up, hospitalization, or care in a psychiatric emergency unit, a residential unit, or a crisis centre.
JOB TITLES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM
- Art therapist
- Behaviour modification agent
- Clinical activities specialist
- Clinical sexologist
- Community recreation leadership technician
- Criminologist
- Dietetics technician
- Dietitian / nutritionist
- Educator
- Guidance counsellor
- Horticulture technician
- Human relations officer
- Integration officer
- Living or rehabilitation unit supervisor
- Medical records archivist
- Occupational hygiene technician
- Occupational therapist
- Physical educator / kinesiologist
- Physical rehabilitation therapist
- Physiotherapist
- Planning, programming and research officer
- Psychoeducator
- Psychologist
- Recreologist
- Remedial learning specialist
- Sexologist
- Social aide
- Social worker
- Social work technician
- Special education technician
- Speech-language pathologist
- Spiritual care worker
- Work adaptability counsellor
Physical disabilities
Under this program, services are provided to people living with a physical impairment (related to hearing, language, motor activities or vision), and to their loved ones. Children with a significant developmental delay, and people who have a social communication disorder, also receive services.
Working in rehabilitation centres, CLSCs or hospital settings, APTS members help these people compensate for the limitations associated with their physical impairment so that they can carry out their daily activities and perform their social roles.
JOB TITLES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM
- Art therapist
- Assistant chief physiotherapist
- Assistant head dietetics technician
- Audiologist
- Clinical activities specialist
- Clinical lecturer (physiotherapy)
- Clinical sexologist
- Community organizer
- Community recreation leadership technician
- Community worker
- Dietetics technician
- Dietitian / nutritionist
- Dispensing optician
- Educator
- Guidance counsellor
- Human relations officer
- Living or rehabilitation unit supervisor
- Occupational hygiene technician
- Occupational therapist
- Orientation and mobility specialist
- Orthotics-prosthetics technician
- Physical educator / kinesiologist
- Physical rehabilitation therapist
- Physiotherapist
- Planning, programming and research officer
- Psychoeducator
- Psychologist
- Social worker
- Social work technician
- Special education technician
- Speech-language pathologist
- Spiritual care worker
- Vision rehabilitation specialist
Physical health
This program provides second- and third-line services for any acute physical health problem not addressed by front-line services. Front-line services include emergency services, hospitalizations, ambulatory care, oncology, palliative care, care for the chronically ill, and technical medical services units providing diagnosis and treatment (i.e., medical laboratories or medical imaging, nuclear medicine, radiation oncology and medical electrophysiology units).
The physical health program also includes health services for patients who need systematic follow-up and round-the-clock services in institutions, in clinics, or at home. Intensive functional rehabilitation units (URFIs) are part of the program.
JOB TITLES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM
- Assistant chief physiotherapist
- Audiologist
- Clinical activities specialist
- Clinical lecturer (physiotherapy)
- Clinical sexologist
- Dental technician
- Dietetics technician
- Dietitian / nutritionist
- Genetics counsellor
- Health promotion counsellor
- Human relations officer
- Medical photographer
- Medical records archivist
- Occupational hygiene technician
- Occupational therapist
- Orthoptist
- Orthotics-prosthetics technician
- Physical educator / kinesiologist
- Physical rehabilitation therapist
- Physiotherapist
- Planning, programming and research officer
- Pre-hospital emergency services quality assurance and training officer
- Psychoeducator
- Psychologist
- Recreologist
- Remedial learning specialist
- Safety technician
- Social aide
- Social worker
- Social work technician
- Special education technician
- Speech-language pathologist
- Spiritual care worker
Public health
The public health program focuses on the entire population of a given health and social services region in order to improve its health and general well-being. Activities include prevention, health promotion and ongoing monitoring of the population’s state of health. The program also works with target groups affected by specific risk factors or living conditions.
JOB TITLES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM
- Community organizer
- Community worker
- Dental hygienist
- Dietetics technician
- Dietitian / nutritionist
- Educator
- Graduate medical laboratory technician
- Health promotion counsellor
- Occupational hygienist
- Occupational hygiene technician
- Occupational therapist
- Physical educator / kinesiologist
- Physical rehabilitation therapist
- Planning, programming and research officer
- Pre-hospital emergency services quality assurance and training officer
- Psychoeducator
- Psychologist
- Safety technician
- Sexologist
- Social aide
- Social worker
- Social work technician
- Special education technician
- Specialist in biological and physical sciences in health
- Speech-language pathologist
- Technical coordinator (laboratory)
Support for independent seniors
Under this program, activities are organized to support seniors living in a variety of settings, from their homes to CHSLDs, so that they can live independently as long as possible and find ways of adapting to a gradual loss of autonomy. Support is also provided for their loved ones.
In addition to the settings named above, APTS members work in intermediate resources, private seniors’ residences (RPAs) and day centres. They provide services such as prevention of falls, spiritual care, and recreation activities, and play an important role in dealing with conditions such as dysphagia, dementia or loss of hearing.
JOB TITLES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM
- Art therapist
- Assistant head dietetics technician
- Audiologist
- Clinical activities specialist
- Community organizer
- Community recreation leadership technician
- Dental hygienist
- Dietetics technician
- Dietitian / nutritionist
- Educator
- Head of module
- Human relations officer
- Medical records archivist
- Occupational hygiene technician
- Occupational therapist
- Physical educator / kinesiologist
- Physical rehabilitation therapist
- Physiotherapist
- Planning, programming and research officer
- Psychoeducator
- Psychologist
- Recreologist
- Social aide
- Social worker
- Social work technician
- Special education technician
- Speech-language pathologist
- Spiritual care worker
Youth with difficulties
Under this program, services are provided from early childhood to adulthood, to children and young people who have developmental or behavioural issues or social adjustment problems (delinquency, violence, suicide, etc.). The program is also intended for young people who need help to ensure their safety and development (because of abuse, neglect, etc.), or to avoid situations that could place them in jeopardy. The program also includes services for families and specialized services such as adoption and reunion, placement, and social rehabilitation.
APTS members may work in CLSCs on Children, Families and Youth teams, in rehabilitation centres, or in youth centres. In some cases, their work is related to the application of the Youth Protection Act or the Young Offenders Act.
JOB TITLES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM
- Art therapist
- Audiologist
- Behaviour modification agent
- Case reviewer
- Clinical activities specialist
- Community recreation leadership technician
- Community worker
- Counsellor for maladjusted children
- Criminologist
- Dietitian / nutritionist
- Educator
- Guidance counsellor
- Head of module
- Human relations officer
- Lawyer
- Living or rehabilitation unit supervisor
- Occupational therapist
- Physical educator / kinesiologist
- Physical rehabilitation therapist
- Psychoeducator
- Psychologist
- Planning, programming and research officer
- Remedial learning specialist
- Social aide
- Social research technician
- Social worker
- Social work technician
- Speech-language pathologist
- Work adaptability counsellor
SUPPORT PROGRAMS
Administrative and technical services and activities are designed to support service programs. These activities do not involve direct services to the population, but they are required so that institutions can function and provide services.
Administration
Administrative activities include the overall management of the institution, management of technical services, and activities related to the use of information technology.
JOB TITLES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM
- Medical records archivist
- Clinical activities specialist
- Lawyer
- Occupational hygiene technician
- Planning, programming and research officer
- Safety technician
Building and equipment management
These activities are closely related to the institution’s property, facilities and equipment. They deal with the operation, maintenance, repairing, cleaning and safety of buildings and equipment, and with the management of biomedical waste.
JOB TITLES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM
- Biomedical engineer
- Biomedical engineering technical coordinator
- Biomedical engineering technician
- Horticulture technician
- Safety technician
Service support
These activities are intended to help institutions deliver services. They include coordination of client services and support, teaching, activities related to admission and registration, and food and laundry services.
JOB TITLES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM
- Assistant head of archives
- Biomedical engineer
- Clinical activities specialist
- Human relations officer
- Medical records archivist
- Occupational hygiene technician
- Occupational therapist
- Planning, programming and research officer
- Pre-hospital emergency services quality assurance and training officer
- Psychologist
- Safety technician
- Social worker
- Spiritual care worker
TECHNICAL MEDICAL SERVICES UNITS
This category highlights the work of two specific types of technical services units in which APTS members play a key role, either in establishing a diagnosis or in providing specific treatments. Both types of unit are part of the “Physical health” service program.
Medical imaging laboratories and nuclear medicine, radiation oncology and medical electrophysiology laboratories
These laboratories specialize in three technical areas. Medical imaging and nuclear medicine use physical phenomena such as X-ray absorption, nuclear magnetic resonance, reflection of ultrasonic waves, and radioactivity to help establish a diagnosis. Radiation oncology uses radiation as a healing treatment. Medical electrophysiology helps establish a diagnosis by using electronic devices that detect motion or electric currents emitted by organs or biological systems.
JOB TITLES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS UNIT
- Assistant chief medical electrophysiology technologist
- Assistant chief radiology technologist
- Clinical instructor (radiology)
- Medical electrophysiology technical coordinator
- Medical electrophysiology technologist
- Medical imaging technologist (diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine)
- Radiation oncology technologist
- Radiology technologist (digital imaging and information system)
- Specialized independent sonographer
- Specialized medical imaging technologist
- Specialized radiation oncology technologist
- Technical coordinator (radiology)
Medical laboratories
Medical laboratories analyze specimens from patients to provide information that can be used to diagnose and treat various illnesses. The activities of medical laboratories include five specializations: biochemistry, hematology and blood banks, microbiology, pathology, and cytology or genetics.
JOB TITLES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS UNIT
- Assistant chief (laboratory)
- Bacteriologist
- Biochemist
- Clinical cytogenetics technician
- Clinical instructor (laboratory)
- Clinical specialist in laboratory medicine
- Cytologist
- Genetics counsellor
- Graduate medical laboratory technician
- Medical technologist
- Medical technology extern
- Pathology assistant
- Specialist in biological and physical sciences in health
- Technical coordinator (laboratory)
- Transfusion safety clinical officer
- Transfusion safety technical officer